The snow and ice may now have virtually disappeared but the effects will be long lasting for the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital which is seeing huge numbers of patients come through A&E, is ‘tight’ for bed space, and has a big backlog of patients who have had operations and appointments cancelled.

Storm Emma, which saw the first significant snowfall in Devon for eight years, resulted in the RD&E declaring an internal critical incident from last Thursday afternoon until Saturday morning.

The hospital has admitted they would not have coped without the help of 4x4 volunteer drivers who helped bring around 80 members of staff to the hospital on Friday morning and the same number home.

Ian Wesley, a volunteer 4x4 driver from Haldon View

Minimum safe staffing levels were maintained throughout its internal critical incident period. However, the hospital is far from being out of the woods yet. Over the last couple of days its emergency department has been seeing more than 300 patients a day, and is just as busy today. Its wards are also very full which has prompted the RD&E to make an appeal for only people who really need their help to use the service.

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The hospital is now in a ‘recovery phase’. That means first dealing with unscheduled or emergency work and then getting through the backlog of postponed patients procedures and appointments.

Routine work is continuing to be postponed today and tomorrow to enable staff to focus on emergency work.

The Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital (Image: Lewis Clarke / Geograph)

RD&E medical executive director Adrian Harris said: “It will take several weeks to recover this position, but we are very familiar how to recover from periods like this such as when we had the junior doctors industrial action.

“The snow was a short, sharp shock, and this would be a very different conversation if we were still had the snow. We were safe at all times but could have done with more staff; It was very challenging.

“Not only is it phenomenally busy in A&E, we’re also really, really tight for beds. We are asking that only people who absolutely have to be here come here.

“Clearly we are seeing the impact of the cold weather which affects some peoples’ illnesses, and some people have been injured by slipping, sledging or cars accidents due to the snow and ice.”

RD&E medical director Adrian Harris

Although he was unable to give numbers for the amount of sledging incidents, Adrian said the injuries were seen in both adults and children, but none had been life threatening.

He added they had also seen a number of cuts from when the top of the snow froze making it more dangerous.

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Reflecting over the past unprecedented four days, Adrian said: “The really, really difficult period for us was probably mid-afternoon Thursday until the same time Friday when it was almost impossible to move patients out of hospital and move staff in and out of hospital. We were very reliant on 4x4 drivers. I was impressed by their dedication and willingness to help. It would be fair to say without them we would not have coped because we would not have got staff in and out.

“Those 24 hours were extremely difficult but even Friday evening and Saturday morning people we were still struggling with transport in more rural areas.

“Our staff, patients and volunteers were amazing. I cannot express my admiration and thanks enough to them. Our staff walked huge distances to get to work. One junior doctor walked twice in and out from Exmouth, and a nurse walked in from Crediton.

Adrian also praised non-clinical staff who volunteered to do all sorts of jobs such as running its staffing hub and transport hub, and up to 40 students from Exeter Medical School in Years 3 to 5, who responded to an appeal for their help.

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“Everyone went above and beyond. People used the term Dunkirk spirit as everyone pulled together. When something like this happens the focus is on doctors, nurses and clinical people. We are also grateful to the catering, portering, linen and all other staff such as those gritted roads, and to all those who came in and did amazing work in difficult circumstance. They don’t get praise and I think they should. We are grateful to everyone.”

Adrian experienced first-hand the extent of community spirit when he was unable to leave his home in Dunchideock on Friday morning. A local farmer ploughed a three mile stretch of road so that Adrian could get to work to relieve a follow hospital executive.

Adrian said: “For me personally I’m really, really tired and have not recovered from it and all we were doing was the thinking and organising so I can’t imagine how tired all the staff and volunteers drivers are.

“It was stressful as you feel the pressure of getting it right for this big health community, but equally it was fun as everyone was working so hard together. You didn’t have to ask for anything twice and everyone stayed cheerful and upbeat.

“I wouldn’t want to do it every day, but everyone was in it together in exceptional circumstances and I would be lying if I said did not enjoy it."

When asked if there is anything the hospital would have done differently, Adrian said lessons learned included believing the severity of the forecast, calling on the help of medical students earlier than Friday evening and realising the power of social media to appeal for help.

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Adrian concluded: “Everyone is having to make a superhuman effort but it does make you proud.”

To help the hospital continue to cope at an exceptionally busy time, people are being asked to only come to hospital if they have a compelling need.

Which NHS services should you use?

The NHS 111 helpline continues to operate and are proving popular among the public, GP practices and pharmacies are available as usual.

Other services available include minor injuries units (MIU), walk-in centres and the NHS 111 helpline. Staff at the MIUs will examine minor ailments and injuries, and can determine if an x-ray is required.

Devon’s MIUs

Opening and waiting times available from the NHSquicker app, available from iTunes or Google Play.

NHSquicker provides live waiting and travel times for NHS services providing urgent care across Devon and Cornwall. It also gives information about the healthcare services available based on your location, helping you to choose the right service and spend less time waiting.